Square to Host Code Camp for Women

Maeghan Ouimet is a business and culture reporter whose work has appeared in Boston Magazine and Rolling Stone. She covers technology start-ups and innovations from the San Francisco bureau for Inc.com.

Mobile payment start-up Square is looking for a few good engineers--but men need not apply.

Square announced Tuesday that it plans to host a contest for female engineers that will culminate in a three-day Code Camp at the company’s San Francisco offices in January.

Dorsey's other company, Twitter, along with other Silicon Valley companies like Google, has already pledged to back the New York-based program Girls Who Code in an effort to get young women involved in the industry. Code Camp has the same goal.

According to the application guidelines, Code Camp is intended for women 18 and older pursuing a degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical major as a full-time student at a university in the U.S. or Canada. Those who qualify must submit an application (including a résumé and an essay) by November 2. Square will announce the winners later in the month.

The 15 women selected to participate in Code Camp will spend three days in San Francisco, all expenses paid, participating in mentor sessions with Square execs, hands-on workshops with its engineering team, hosted Q&As, and tours around the Bay Area.

"We developed this contest to inspire and encourage female engineering students," a Square spokeswoman told Inc.com. "There is a great deal of talent across the country and we think an immersion program is a fantastic way for students to learn more about the fields they hope to enter, make new friends, and meet leaders in their industry."